Senate Education committee endorses Lisa Paulus for Public Charter School Commission; hears two other nominees

The Idaho Senate Education Committee voted to send the gubernatorial nomination of Lisa Paulus to the full Senate with a recommendation that she be confirmed to the Idaho Public Charter School Commission.

Senator Steve Carlson moved to forward the nomination; the motion was seconded by Senator Scott Cook after the committee corrected the official body name to "Idaho Public Charter School Commission." The motion was passed by voice vote with no recorded opposition; the committee chair called for "all in favor, aye," and no senators called an opposition vote on the record. The committee recorded the recommendation as a due-pass to the Senate floor.

Separately, the committee heard an introduction from gubernatorial appointee Wallace Hedrick of Eagle, who described a 41-year career in West Ada and service at Meridian Technical Charter High School, plus time in the U.S. Army and Army Reserve. Hedrick told senators he supports work to help struggling charter schools with training and oversight while allowing high-performing charters longer renewal cycles. "Charters need to evolve," he said, and the commission should help struggling schools with financial, academic or enrollment challenges.

The committee also heard from former Senator Sean Keough of Sandpoint, who is the governor's choice for reappointment to the State Board of Education. Keough reviewed actions taken during his first term, including development of a statewide literacy plan, a dyslexia handbook and expanded K–3 literacy intervention funding. He told senators that high-school graduation rates and immediate postgraduation enrollment in Idaho public higher education rose in recent years and quoted the governor's 2020 State of the State: "I subscribe to the view that it is better to prepare children today than to repair them later," which Keough said he shares.

No committee votes were recorded for Hedrick or Keough during the session; members asked questions and indicated they would consider the nominations in committee or later on the floor. Chairman Senator Dave Lent said the committee will continue consideration as part of its work during the legislative session.